By Kyle Spurr | The Daily Astorian
April 28, 2016
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New county manager getting up to speed

The new Clatsop County manager, Cameron Moore, has spent his first month on the job getting accustomed to life on the North Coast.

On days off, the avid hiker explores scenic trails along the Pacific Ocean. On the job, Moore enjoys learning from county staff and community members. As the top administrator for the county, he watched over his second Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday night.

“It’s kind of been a two-way street,” he said. “I have expectations of people on our staff, but I also know they have a lot to teach me.”

Moore, 59, is getting brought up to speed on various issues facing the county, from a housing crisis and mental health concerns to the county’s role in forestry and fishing management.

An experienced administrator

Hired in February, Moore moved earlier this month from Mahomet, Illinois, where he served as the chief executive officer for the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission since 2007. He replaced Scott Somers, who resigned last year to take a job in Maryland.

Champaign County has a population of more than 200,000, and is home to the University of Illinois. Over his 30-year career, Moore has gained experience in public service administration and economic development with several public and private entities in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Iowa and Illinois.

While he worked in larger markets, Moore said, his recent experience in Champaign County has similarities to Clatsop County. The regional planning commission there offers community development, planning and early childhood educational services to local governments.

Moore led a staff of 215 employees with a $25 million budget. Clatsop County has about 200 employees and a budget of about $60 million.

“They are similar sized,” he said. “Many of the things we do here, I have some background in.”

Board of Commissioners Chairman Scott Lee said he has been impressed with Moore.

“Cam is coming in with a lot of background,” Lee said. “He had been managing organizations with hundreds of employees for a long time. I sensed right away he is someone that has an intuitive understanding of the job.”

Revolving door

Clatsop County has had a difficult time retaining county managers. Moore is the 10th manager to take the helm in 16 years.

That fact mattered to Moore. Throughout the hiring process, he asked many people to give their honest assessment about the revolving door of county managers. He discovered many former managers left on their own, either through retirement or as a step forward in their careers. He also heard some left because their spouses were not happy in the area.

“The answers I got were remarkably consistent,” he said. “What I heard from people gave me a comfort level to come here.”

For Moore, he is putting roots down in the community. He and his wife recently bought a home in Gearhart, and they plan on eventually retiring in Clatsop County.

“This is the last stop in my career, or as I have said a few times, this is my last hurrah,” Moore said. “I don’t see myself leaving here for another job.”

Core philosophy

As county manager, Moore said, his core philosophy is managing the county’s financial and human resources. On the human resources side, Moore’s priority is to make sure every county employee succeeds at their jobs. The more focus put on helping employees, the more successful the county becomes, Moore said. In addition, he said, taxpayers benefit in the long run from a more efficient and effective organization.

“I think every day about what I can do while I’m here to create a positive environment, to encourage employees and to recognize the good things they do,” he said. “This is where I focus most of my time thinking about these things.”